Apr 16, 2018, 4:15 pm
Last edit by: dayone
This thread (post #5 from Marriott Rewards Insider) has the official announcement of changes effective later in 2018.
An earlier, speculative discussion appears in the following closed thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...tus-tiers.html
An earlier, speculative discussion appears in the following closed thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...tus-tiers.html
Official announcement – See how our three loyalty programs will become one in August
Apr 21, 2018, 3:54 pm
#556
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 278
Is there a soft landing in the new program?
As above, it would be very great if you could clarify if there are soft landings in the new program.
The answer to this will determine whether we bother spending money on achieving the next tier.
Thanks.
The answer to this will determine whether we bother spending money on achieving the next tier.
Thanks.
Apr 21, 2018, 3:54 pm
#557
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, DL Platinum, UA Gold, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 89
This has probably already been addressed, but I really wish they would have come up with a better name than Platinum Premier for the level above Platinum. I guarantee hotel staff are going to be confused, just as they already are today with the current PP unpublished status.
Apr 21, 2018, 4:15 pm
#558
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I think that most rational people here recognise that merging two large corporations is a hugely complex and difficult task. This one is no different, and is following the same trajectory as many others I've worked on, a kind of 'Rumsfeld' model :
1) The knew about a load of stuff and decided on the solution before the announcement.
2) They know about a load of other stuff that they know they will have to decide on a solution after the announcement.
3) Following the announcement, a whole load of other stuff, that they didn't even know they had to think about, has emerged, mainly through places like FT.
MR have done 90% of the work, yet are only 50% there.
They have a huge 'to-do' list of things that need sorting, bigger than they ever thought, and a very pressing, self-imposed deadline.
How 'good' or 'bad' the launch is depends on what happens in the next few weeks, not what happened in the last few.
1) The knew about a load of stuff and decided on the solution before the announcement.
2) They know about a load of other stuff that they know they will have to decide on a solution after the announcement.
3) Following the announcement, a whole load of other stuff, that they didn't even know they had to think about, has emerged, mainly through places like FT.
MR have done 90% of the work, yet are only 50% there.
They have a huge 'to-do' list of things that need sorting, bigger than they ever thought, and a very pressing, self-imposed deadline.
How 'good' or 'bad' the launch is depends on what happens in the next few weeks, not what happened in the last few.
Apr 21, 2018, 4:16 pm
#559
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
This has probably already been addressed, but I really wish they would have come up with a better name than Platinum Premier for the level above Platinum. I guarantee hotel staff are going to be confused, just as they already are today with the current PP unpublished status.
Apr 21, 2018, 4:24 pm
#560
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
I do agree Its almost laughable the suggestion that splitting your reservation to use an SNA is gaming the system or even gambling.
It is the only way it can be used for stays that are not in multiples of 5. The only ‘gambling’ that takes place is whether you get to stay in your suite for the rest of the stay. One can book the suite with cash or points for the extra days, but you will still need a split reservation.
It's a gamble worth taking if you want 5 suite nights (of a 7-day stay) to take those nights first and see how it goes. Or to check the availability of suites and split the reservation accordingly.
What remains absurd is the idea you will be punished for doing this. There is no term or condition that says you cannot book multiple consecutive stays at a property. Of course, Marriott could consider them "one stay" for any reason it chooses (this seems irrelevant in the new program, but maybe it isn't).
Apr 21, 2018, 4:51 pm
#561
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
AFAIK no announcement so far.
Past policy seems to be NO on the Starwood side and SOMETIMES with Marriott, where a positive outcome seems to have been more likely if the customer had earned the status for several years, etc. I don't think there was ever a rule or published standard for soft landings, so even if the new program does sometimes give soft landings, there's no guarantee that this courtesy would be extended to a given individual.
In other words, do not assume but YMMV.
Past policy seems to be NO on the Starwood side and SOMETIMES with Marriott, where a positive outcome seems to have been more likely if the customer had earned the status for several years, etc. I don't think there was ever a rule or published standard for soft landings, so even if the new program does sometimes give soft landings, there's no guarantee that this courtesy would be extended to a given individual.
In other words, do not assume but YMMV.
Apr 21, 2018, 4:54 pm
#562
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
What remains absurd is the idea you will be punished for doing this. There is no term or condition that says you cannot book multiple consecutive stays at a property. Of course, Marriott could consider them "one stay" for any reason it chooses (this seems irrelevant in the new program, but maybe it isn't).
As a result, I am aware of several incidences where people tried to game the SNA system as suggested by creating multiple consecutive stays to try and avoid the SNA rules (requiring one to have enough SNAs for every night of a stay)—and had their SNAs canceled out entirely.
Proceed as you wish, but know that booking multiple consecutive stays in an attempt to bypass the SNA rules IS a violation of the SNA rules for Starwood. I would expect that Marriott would adopt those same rules, since the Marriott SNA terms already publicized indicate the exact same restriction.
Trying to do what you’re suggesting IS gaming the SNA system. Whether or not Marriott adopts the same rules or even cares or catches you and cancels out your SNAs is another matter. Proceed with caution.
Last edited by bhrubin; Apr 21, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Apr 21, 2018, 5:46 pm
#563
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,276
I don't think anyone can say if there will be soft landings in early 2019. Even if there are soft landings, there's no way of knowing what the algorithm will be for who stays at their 2018 level despite not re-qualifying, who get a one-level soft landing, and who drops to a level that only reflects the actual nights stayed. And algorithm could consider many factors.
My guess is that Marriott will be reasonably generous with soft landings in early 2019. After the transition and disruption of 2018, soft landings could be a way to cultivate and keep customers who might initially be alienated by all the changes.
Then again, Marriott might want to cut members who failed to qualify. Some of the status matching of 2016 through 2018 was quite generous, so 2019 might be an opportunity to cut back to only those who genuinely qualify (eliminating the expense of the higher level of benefits).
In short, if you want to be at a particular elite level, it's probably better to qualify for it than to rely on a soft landing.
Qualification rules for 2019 have been published. Elite levels are based on the combined total of Rewards nights and SPG nights added together (although qualification will also be possible one final year under the old SPG rules, relying entirely on SPG properties for qualification based on stays, not nights).
Last edited by Horace; Apr 21, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Apr 21, 2018, 6:50 pm
#564
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,008
Apr 21, 2018, 7:03 pm
#565
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,008
Source?
Source?
I would much prefer they announce things well in advance, allowing time for feedback and adjustments, and announce different aspects of the program at different times to allow for focused feedback on specific areas vs. widespread chaos.
This merger was announced 2.5 years ago. They've been working on it for most of that time. If you think waiting another 9 months, until the very day everything took effect, to announce how it works and expecting every single details to be completely identified and solved to everyone's satisfaction, so it works perfectly on the co-incident announcement day and operational Day 1, I have a vastly different opinion. And having worked through multiple F100 merger integration project, I'm fairly confident in this.
This merger was announced 2.5 years ago. They've been working on it for most of that time. If you think waiting another 9 months, until the very day everything took effect, to announce how it works and expecting every single details to be completely identified and solved to everyone's satisfaction, so it works perfectly on the co-incident announcement day and operational Day 1, I have a vastly different opinion. And having worked through multiple F100 merger integration project, I'm fairly confident in this.
Apr 21, 2018, 8:23 pm
#566
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 502
This has probably already been addressed, but I really wish they would have come up with a better name than Platinum Premier for the level above Platinum. I guarantee hotel staff are going to be confused, just as they already are today with the current PP unpublished status.
EDIT- staff arent nessecarly confused about PP benefits. 1) there are no published benefits above regular plat. 2) many may not have even been told what the status is to begin with. At least now, all staff will presumably be required to read up on this new program so at least for some amount of time everybody will be on the same page on the new program. As months and years go on things will become fractured again.
Apr 22, 2018, 9:01 am
#567
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
In my early days as an SPG Platinum,which were also the early days of the SPG Platinum program , the suite upgrade benefit often became a far too prevalent “discussion” at check in. Without smart devices , I often had to get to my room to plug in or call reservations to check availability. That being said , SPG had an excellent guest services hotline . One call to guest services to express my disappointment at not receiving the published suite benefit usually resulted in then calling the property on my behalf . That was typically followed by a call to my room from the duty manager to inform me that they had “found” a suite for me and I could return to get my new keys or have a bellman come up with my new keys and move me. As the SPG Platinum developed , I did find that most properties became more compliant and calls to guest services became a rarity. Of course , there were still rogue properties but they were few and far between . I actually found the luxury properties to be the most accommodating, compliant , and welcoming .
I always found SPG customer care to be more responsive vs. Marriott.
This might be of interest to some: My Predictions About Marriott’s New Platinum Suite Upgrade Benefit
David Flueck, told me that the new policy is intended to mirror Starwood’s policy rather than Marriott’s policy. That was in response to me asking whether suite upgrades were at the hotel’s discretion (like Marriott), or whether they were guaranteed subject to availability (like Starwood).
https://onemileatatime.boardingarea....grade-benefit/
Last edited by imverge; Apr 22, 2018 at 9:23 am
Apr 22, 2018, 12:22 pm
#568
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
Posts: 639
Transferring pts to someone in your household?
I haven't been able to read the entire thread, so please forgive if it's been addressed.
Is there any mention about transferring the new Marriott points to another members account (with the same address) the way you can now transfer Starwood points?
Thanks.
Is there any mention about transferring the new Marriott points to another members account (with the same address) the way you can now transfer Starwood points?
Thanks.
Apr 22, 2018, 12:25 pm
#569
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
Posts: 639
AmEx (and Marriott) Credit Card Free Nights Awards - Transferable?
Might anyone know if these certificates will be transferable?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Last edited by birdyy; Apr 22, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Apr 22, 2018, 3:14 pm
#570
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,077
I haven't seen this addressed, but I hope they continue with the Marriott paradigm where you can transfer as many points as needed for an award to anyone. Otherwise, one can transfer 50K points to their spouse/SO annually. I am unfamiliar with how it currently works for SPG. I hope that info helps in understanding how it currently works at Marriott. - Bob